Sunday, April 08, 2018

Dispassion Vs Depression

In one of his discourses, Swami Anubhavanandaji very cleverly explained the subtle difference between dispassion (ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ) and depression (ಖಿನ್ನತೆ).

Dispassion =  real detachment from the word with wisdom

Depression = apparent detachment from the world without wisdom (or with ignorance)

I think this gives the best way to evaluate our own condition when we feel we are detached from the world. Make sure it is not a case of sour grape syndrome. It is easy to feel detached or show that you are detached from things that you could not or did not get.

They say, you are really free when you have nothing to lose.

Another saying that comes to mind is, if you want to determine what truly is your possession, check what remains with you after you have lost everything. (Ans: Knowledge).

Yoga Vasishtha (ಯೋಗ ವಾಸಿಷ್ಠ) is one of the best books to cultivate real dispassion. It is not a book on Vedanta (i.e. Upanishads) but nevertheless regarded as one of the highest books of Advaita school. It is placed at the same level as Mandukya Upanishad and commentaries on Mandukya upanishad. These two books are the two highest summits of Advaita Vedanta.

Mythology says that sage Vasishta preached dispassion to lord Rama when Rama was confused and that became the book Yoga Vasishta. Scholars say it belongs to Kashmir shaivisam.

Swami Venkateshanada has translated this treasure to English. It is one of the best books if you have read and prepared yourself by going through foundational books of Advaita such as Viveka choodamani, Atmabodha, Aparokshanubhuti etc. by Shankarachyara and others. Even otherwise, you may come to appreciate and benefit from it very much if you are blessed with grace to understand it.

A shorter version of Yoga Vasishta called Yoga Vasishta Sara is a good pocket book for frequent reference.

Cheers!

4 comments:

sunaath said...

Mahesh, I am an ordinary man with lot of attachment to myself! I am strongly detached from detachment.I feel God only can save me. All the same keep showing me the true path. One or the other day, I may reform.

Mahesh Hegade said...

Sunaath Sir, you are wise indeed. Very clear about your position. Many of us don't know that also. Cheers!

anni said...

Dear sunaath sir please refer some blog ,which is similer to mahesh hegade's blog

sunaath said...

Dear Naveenkumar,
I could not guess. Will you please make your comment a little more explicit?